Instagram orders Rihanna to take down nude photos from Lui Magazine shoot

Lol Minutes after posting photos of her bare nipples from her LUI magazine cover(HERE) ,Rihanna deleted them..She then posted this photo shading them..

Remember Maheeda had her account deleted by Instagam for posting nude photos..But being a Boss,Riri was probably called and pleaded with..Lol

She posted a censored version below

Abducted School Girls Sold To Islamist Fighters Abroad At $12 Each

A community leader in Chibok, claimed the girls abducted by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect had been sold as wives abroad.

According to Pogo Bitrus, leader of a Chibok elders group, the captured girls are being offered to Boko Haram fighters at $12 each.
Bitrus said that locals had been tracking the movements of the hostages with the help of “various sources” across the northeast.
“From the information we received yesterday from Cameroonian border towns our abducted girls were taken into Chad and Cameroon,” he said.
The girls were then sold as brides to Islamist fighters for 2,000 naira ($12) each, Bitrus added.
Meanwhile, parents of the abducted girls slammed the government on Tuesday over failure to rescue scores of schoolgirls kidnapped two weeks ago by Boko Haram Islamists.
“May God curse every one of those who have failed to free our girls,” said Enoch Mark, whose daughter and two nieces were among the more than 234 students abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state.
The attack was one of the most shocking in Boko Haram’s five-year uprising, which has claimed thousands of lives across northern and central Nigeria.

Pandemonium In Enugu As Helicopter Lands At Government House

Tension gripped officials of the Enugu State Government when a helicopter conveying the remains of the father of an executive director of a leading commercial bank in Nigeria made an impromptu landing at the state government house on Tuesday.

Efforts to determine the reason behind the emergency landing of the helicopter could not be confirmed at press time but efforts are still being made to get the actual cause.

The sudden landing however, did not record any form of casualties within the Enugu state seat of power.
Efforts to contact the Special Adviser on Security to the governor of Enugu state, Mr. Richard Chime is still being made at press time.

More details to come up later.

Amaka Igwe, Renowned Nollywood Movie Producer, is Dead

 

Amaka Igwe

• Atiku, Obi, others mourn
Adeola Akinremi with agency report

Amaka Igwe, one of Nigeria’s foremost film producers, writers, directors and a leading player in the motion picture industry, is dead.

The news of her death which came to many as a shock, was contained in a statement issued Tuesday in Lagos by The Nigerian Entertainment (NET).

The statement said that Amaka died on Monday night in Enugu after a brief illness.

Confirming the death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tuesday in Abuja, Mr. Agility Onwurah, Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abuja Chapter, said Amaka’s demise was a big blow to the Nollywood industry.
“Amaka had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for pre-production of a new Igbo soap when the sad incident occurred.

“She suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to a hospital, but died before getting there.
“Amaka is survived by her husband of 21 years, Charles Igwe, three children, and an aged mother," the statement said.

Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher.
She founded the BoB TV Expo, and was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Top Radio 90.9 FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks.

The statement described Amaka as a visionary, and pioneer of modern Nigerian TV drama and film.
Amaka hit national limelight as the writer and producer of the award-winning TV soap, “Checkmate” and the spin-off “Fuji House of Commotion”.

Her Nollywood projects included Rattle Snake and Violated, two critically acclaimed movies that set Amaka Igwe Studios apart in the much-criticised Nollywood industry.

Her death has triggered lots of reactions from the public, with many expressing surprise at what was seen as the sudden death of the Nollywood star.

One of the earliest reactions came from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who described Amaka as the jewel of the Nollywood industry.

Atiku, in a tribute to Amaka, expressed shock at her demise, describing her as a major player in the Nigerian movie industry.
Atiku recalled that Mrs. Igwe's first major production: “Decrees of Fate” won four awards at the National Festival of Television Programmes in 1988.

“Amaka (Igwe) was one of the pioneers of the movie industry. Her presence in Nollywood grew to become quite impressive as she amassed a number of well received movies,” Atiku said.

According to him, her long-running TV drama serial “Checkmate” and the sitcom “Fuji House of Commotion” regularly held families spellbound.

Similarly, former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, noted that the death of Amaka was not only a blow to Nollywood, but to the country at large.

Condoling with the family for the loss, he said her life was inspiring in many ways, especially for teaching the lesson that virtue prevails in doing whatever one did for the greater glory of God and edification of humanity.

In its own tribute, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), described the demise of Amaka as a national tragedy and urged the federal government to immortalise her memory in a special tribute.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA asked President Goodluck Jonathan to rename the Nigerian Films Corporation, Jos, after the late actress and producer.

Shocker!! Brother Stabs Brother Over A Piece Of Chicken (See Pics)

This life, people can be so wicked. Even your blood brother can hurt you so badly to stab you for real in the heart. The pictures below were reported to a blogger colleague of mine who at the same time works in a federal teaching hospital. It was alleged that the brothers were fighting over a piece of chicken as argument arose between brother. The other got angry and stabbed his other brother on his chest.
So touching! Viewers Discretion is strongly advised here as you take a look at it yourself below:-
Surgery would had taken place by now because he was rushed to the hospital as soon as it happened and a neighbor came to rescue. Full details coming up soon!!

Ritualist Caught With Human Parts & N4M In Benin City

It was reliably gathered that the man had lived in a make-shift apartment for close to two years, pretending to be a madman.
According to one of the landlords in the area simply identified as Pa. Onaiwu, who spoke to journalists, the suspected ritual killer was in the habit of behaving funny especially when it is getting dark.
“This man sometimes behaves funny. In the afternoon, you will see him bathing n***d, behaving like a real madman.

Boko Haram Threatens To Kill Abducted Girls If Search Is Not Stopped

Boko Haram men have threatened to kill the school girls they abducted in the early hours of April 15th if the search for them continues. This is after some Borno women under the auspices of BAOBAB Women’s Right said they are planning to storm the Sambisa forest where the abducted girls are believed to be held. The women said since efforts by the military to rescue the girls haven’t worked so far, it was time for them to take matters into their hands as concerned mothers.

Boko Haram Threatens To Kill Abducted Girls If Search Is Not Stopped

Boko Haram men have threatened to kill the school girls they abducted in the early hours of April 15th if the search for them continues. This is after some Borno women under the auspices of BAOBAB Women’s Right said they are planning to storm the Sambisa forest where the abducted girls are believed to be held. The women said since efforts by the military to rescue the girls haven’t worked so far, it was time for them to take matters into their hands as concerned mothers.

Boko Haram Threatens To Kill Abducted Girls If Search Is Not Stopped

Boko Haram men have threatened to kill the school girls they abducted in the early hours of April 15th if the search for them continues. This is after some Borno women under the auspices of BAOBAB Women’s Right said they are planning to storm the Sambisa forest where the abducted girls are believed to be held. The women said since efforts by the military to rescue the girls haven’t worked so far, it was time for them to take matters into their hands as concerned mothers.

Boko Haram Threatens To Kill Abducted Girls If Search Is Not Stopped

Boko Haram men have threatened to kill the school girls they abducted in the early hours of April 15th if the search for them continues. This is after some Borno women under the auspices of BAOBAB Women’s Right said they are planning to storm the Sambisa forest where the abducted girls are believed to be held. The women said since efforts by the military to rescue the girls haven’t worked so far, it was time for them to take matters into their hands as concerned mothers.

Boko Haram Threatens To Kill Abducted Girls If Search Is Not Stopped

Boko Haram men have threatened to kill the school girls they abducted in the early hours of April 15th if the search for them continues. This is after some Borno women under the auspices of BAOBAB Women’s Right said they are planning to storm the Sambisa forest where the abducted girls are believed to be held. The women said since efforts by the military to rescue the girls haven’t worked so far, it was time for them to take matters into their hands as concerned mothers.

Pics: Naval Officer Allegedly Kills Bus Conductor In Oshodi Over Bribe

Saw the photo and report on this guy’s Facebook page. Why is this happening? One policeman was beaten up yesterday for shooting a driver and now this… ?

Unbelievable:- Five Male University Students Gang-Rap’e Male Colleague

Wait, say what? Did this really happen? According to Leadership Newspaper it did. Below is how they are reporting it..

Five male students of a Nigerian university landed into a big soup when they allegedly gang r***d another young boy who nearly bled to death from the injuries he sustained from the assault.
Leadership learnt that one of the students, a 2nd year student whose name was given as Friday Desmond, had been lovers with the r***d boy who name was given as George. He had promised to marry George as soon as he graduated from university. Their illicit love affair had been going on smoothly with both of them meeting regularly at selected places

Sometimes you feel you’ve heard it all and then you’re hit you with another one.
On that fateful day, however, Friday took four of his friends to Bwari Area Council where George lived with his parents and lured George to a hotel in the neighbourhood. LEADERSHIP learnt that the five students took turns to r**e George.
After the incident George was allowed to go. At home, he discovered that he was bleeding from his anus. He quickly alerted his parents who tried every first aid measure to stop the bleeding to no avail. They quickly rushed George to a nearby medical centre where the health officials put him on intensive care.
Every attempt to stop the bleeding failed. The distraught parents enquired what happened to him and he told them how the five students gang r***d him and left him with the injuries.

Breaking News:- Mad Woman Caught In Osogbo Kidnapped 3 Kids [See Photo]

Caught in Oshogbo few hours ago with 3 kids pretending as a mad woman.  See photo-

We’re the Woman was Later Burnt to Death.

TOUCHING! Lecturer Slain In Kogi State As Ebira and Igala Clashes – Polytechnic Shut Down Over Lecturer’s Mur’der

Mr Abimaje said to be a senior lecturer was allegedly stabbed to death by his students when trying to settle a dispute amongst them. The dispute allegedly degenerated from a clash between two females of the Ebira and Igala tribes. The Polytechnic has been shut down indefinitely and students were asked to vacate their hostels as security operatives now patrol the institution.
The management of the school stated that the institution was shut down to prevent the crisis from degenerating.
Ethnic Clash
Our correspondent in Lokoja who visited the institution reports that the lecturer was said to have been stabbed to death by some group of students while he tried to mediate in the crisis that involved two ethnic groups in the Polytechnic.
The Kogi State Polytechnic which has been peaceful since its establishment, recently recorded some conflict between students from the two major ethnic groups in the state; Ebira and Igala.
It was gathered that the tribal groups have been at logger heads over a crisis that involved two female students of the institution, since March.
The crisis that led to killing of the lecturer was said to have started at about 9pm in the night between the Ebira students and Igala students.
The fracas led students to take to their heels while some were wounded during the calamity.
Some students were lucky to have immediately left the institution with their belongings while some others were not lucky as they were not allowed into the dormitories by security operatives following the school’s closure.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Mathew Ajibero who spoke to Channels TV in Lokoja, said the initial crisis between the two females was resolved, but he could not explain what caused the fresh crisis, stating that the institution will investigate the issue.
While some students were already leaving for their homes, some were still waiting outside the school to get their properties out of the dormitories

Man Sexually Assaults Sleeping Woman on British Airways Flight

A man was caught fondling a woman’s b****t for five minutes, as she slept on a recent British Airways flight from London to San Francisco. The unidentified woman was taking a nap when the male passenger, Vinay Pochampally, reached over from his seat behind her, and slipped his hand inside her blouse while other passengers watched, Daily Mail reports. He was reportedly intoxicated when he did this.
When the woman woke up and realized what was happening, Pochampally briskly removed his hand and ran down the aircraft aisle.
What is most shocking about this is that although the incident was later reported to flight attendants, none of the passengers attempted to stop the assault as it was happening.
Pochampally has been charged with simple assault.

Another Kidnapper Burnt To Death In Ayetoro, Osogbo (2 Kidnappers Burnt In Less Than 8hrs)

Osogbo is Hot! Another Kidnapper has been Burnt this Morning around 7:30am. Last Night we Posted a News about a Kidnapper that was burnt around Igbono Area of Osogbo Opposite the Mr Biggs Eatery HERE

I Guess the State is on Kidnapper Tour because they heard its a Peaceful One.
Parents are Adviced to Keep close Eyes on their Wards. God Bless Us.

Breathtaking-Tiwa Savage & Tee Billz dazzle for their white Wedding( Photos)

Tiwa is just one happy,beautiful bride..This Vera Wang wedding gown is just Perfection..Congrats to them

More below

How businessman just walked out of his house and vanished in Lagos

Eleven months after a promising businessman, Mr Emmanuel Uchenna Okoye left his Lagos home, no one seems to know whether he is dead or alive. While the family believes that Okoye, who until his disappearance, shuttled between Nigeria and Spain as well as China from where he imported spare parts must have died, security agents, especially the Department of State Security, DSS, argue that they have evidence the businessman is still alive.

His wife, 27-year-old Mrs. Grace Obayuzo Okoye is yet to accept the reality of what might have befallen her husband since he left their Iyana Isashi, Lagos home since May 23, 2013.
According to Sun ,to compound her anguish, the Ebira woman from Kogi State, said she was two months pregnant when he vanished. She was delivered of a baby girl on December 23 last year while the baby died three weeks ago. As the stress of searching for her husband is already taking its toll on Grace, she is faced on another front by in-laws the battle to dispossess her of her husband’s property.

PHOTOS: Tiwa Savage’s White Wedding Reception At Armani Hotel, Downtown Dubai

Yes oooo it is all about Tiwatope Savage and her manager, husband, Olatunji Balogun, Tee Billz today.
The celebrity lovers just rounded up their wedding reception at Armani Hotel in Downtown Dubai.
Check out pictures from the ceremony:

Daniel Ademinokan’s birthday message to Stella Damasus

 

Stella Damasus is a year older and her BFF Daniel Ademinokan threw her a birthday shout out at 12am…..He shared one of her best photos with a very beautiful caption and she responded too by calling him “her Oga At The Top”…nicey!
See snapshot below:

Lawyer Arrested For Buying One Week Old Baby For N1.5 Million

A Cameroon lady lawyer Mrs Ngala Norgu Julia was arrested recently by Nigerian Immigration Service, the Cross River State Command for allegedly being in custody of a new born baby girl at the Calabar Port while maneuvering her way to smuggle the baby which obviously she did not gave birth to into Cameroon.
She earlier lied; she was delivered of the baby with the help of an herbalist in Okiti-pupa, Ondo State. But after much scrutiny she confessed of purchasing the baby from Okiti-Pupa for the sum of N1.5million naira.
She has been handed over to the State Police Command.

PHOTOS: Patience Ozokwor debuts in new Kannywood movie

The producer of the movie is known to incorporate Nollywood actors in Kannywood movies.
Nollywood star actress, Patience Ozokwor, is to feature in a new Kannywood-Nollywood collaboration movie.
The movie, produced by Usman Uzee, is currently being filmed in Abuja.
Mr. Uzee is known for his versatility in movie production and has produced movies featuring
Kannywood and Nollywood actors.
His latest movie, still making waves in most cities in the country, is a collaboration between hilarious Kannywood’s Rabiu Musa ‘Ibro’ and Nollywood’s rib cracking Nkem Owoh ‘Osofia’. The film was titled Maja.
Mr. Uzee said the new movie will feature Ibro, Dumbaru and Patience as the star actors.
“I have been planning to have this movie for a very long time. Soon, I should get over it but it has been very hectic assembling these great stars.”
As regards the title of the movie, Mr. Uzee said he only has a working title for now.

Nollywood Star, Chris Nkulor Is Dead

Nollywood actor, Chris Nkulor who was diagnosed of a kidney ailment is dead. And this is happening barely one month after a campaign was launched to help raise N3million for his treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching hospital Ile-Ife Nigeria. News of his death filtered in earlier on today. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Police Officer Rapés A Pastor's Daughter; Now She's Pregnant

A Nigerian police sergeant has been arrested in Anambra for allegedly rap'ing the daughter of a pastor at the Nkpor area of Idemili. He promised to be giving the girl’s family N20,000 monthly for her up keep, which the father turned down, demanding N300,000 to enable him take proper care of his daughter till delivery.

The young girl, who is now two months pregnant, finally confessed what happened to her parent.

In her statement, she was quoted as saying that the policeman ordered her at gunpoint to have séx with him on her way from school. 

But the policeman denied her claims, he insisted he didn't use force and that the act was carried out mutually between him and the 13 years old girl. Can you imagine that?

According to a family source, the girl told her parent that the policeman threatened her against telling anyone about the affair. The threat made her keep the secret until few days ago when she complained to her mother about some symptoms, which after thorough investigation led to her confession of being pregnant.

The police sergeant initially denied the allegations and he was supported by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. This made the girl’s parents petition the state Commissioner of Police through a human rights group.

But after the petition, the policeman accepted responsibility and agreed to take care of the girl till delivery.

Hmmm....Lagos Stadium Is Now A Den For Big Time Prostitutés

Boxing promoter, Martins Osaile, has lamented the state of the National Stadium, Lagos, saying it has turned to a home for prostitutes. The multi-purpose stadium, built in 1972, was once the pride of the country, hosting high-profile games including the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, which the Green Eagles won.

But the stadium has gradually degenerated, due to lack of maintenance. Osaile said government officials were only interested in hiring the place to people, to the detriment of the state of the sports arena.

“The National Stadium, Lagos has been turned to a brothel. Someone there built rooms all around the place and it is prostitutés that are patronising the place...

“They (officials) know about what is going on but they don’t care because they hire the place to people. All the under of the steps (of the main bowl) have been converted to small rooms, where they practice prostitution.”

In a chat with Punch, Osaile said: “I have never seen where facilities have been so abandoned. The Liberty Stadium (Ibadan) is dead. They said Enugu stadium is under concession but where are the concession papers? Only the Ahmadu Bello Stadium is a bit neat and this is because of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who loves sports and comes from the state,” Osaile added.

Is Peter Okoye's Wife The Cause of P'Square Break Up? Here's What She Has To Say

Since I reported the story of the big crises in the P'Square house last week, a lot has been said about the wife of one of the twin brothers, Peter Okoye. Many people are accusing his wife, Lola Omotayo, of trying to turn him against his own family and all sort.

Someone even said she is the one instigating Peter Okoye to collect his own money and property out of their joint account so that she will have access to spend the money as she likes. She is also not spared on the social media where some tribalist have called her a "bad wife" who is after their brother's money.

But how is Lola taking all the insult and name calling from her husband's people?

She believes a real wife doesn't make noise and would rather sue for peace quietly than join issues with those, in her estimation, who doesn't know half of what she's really going through but are quick to judge her.

Abuja bombing: 10-month-old baby reunites with injured mother

One of the very few happy moments in connection with Monday’s bomb attack at the Nyanya bus station happened yesterday, as a 10-month-old baby is set to be reunited with her injured mother, who was admitted at the Wuse General Hospital.
Baby Goodness had spent the whole of Monday at Asokoro Hospital while her mother, Gloria Adams, who suffered severe injuries, was later discovered in the Intensive Care Unit at Wuse General Hospital and has since been visited by family members.
She was among 216 people now confirmed injured in the blast. Luckily, doctors said the 10-month-old did not sustain any injury in the blast, apart from a slight swelling over one eye, currently is being monitored.
Mrs Adams said: “I cannot remember how I got here. I only saw myself on the ground, turning and turning. Then someone came and removed the baby.
“I’m feeling better. Many have died, but I am alive. I give glory to God.”
Plans were already underway to transfer the baby to Wuse Hospital  to join her mother.
Meanwhile, the official number of the dead following the attack, has risen from 71 to 75, while the number of injured persons has been put at 216 even as pathologists and forensic specialists have began work to identify dismembered bodies.
Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who made this known after he visited the bomb blast victims at various hospitals in the FCT yesterday, said there were no plans by the Federal Government to conduct a mass burial for the dead.
Chukwu said pathologists were presently meeting and collaborating with their forensic colleagues from the West African Forensic Association in order to assist in having savaged bodies identified.
He insisted that no victim would be buried in a mass grave, rather, dismembered bodies would be identified and buried individually and decently.
There have been worries over how the federal government will conduct the burial of the dead as bodies were burnt and disfigured, also body parts that littered the blast scene were packed into body bags on the premises of hospitals.
Speaking the official figures of the number of the dead, he said that three persons lost their lives during the night at Wuse and Maitama hospitals from severe head injury bringing the figures to 75.
On the number of injured persons, the minister said that the provisional figures given on Monday, may have been exaggerated due to double counting or some persons simply left after being treated because their wounds were not severe.
He stated that those evacuated to the hospitals was 216 and that they were receiving treatment at different hospitals in the FCT.
He commended the doctors and the management of the Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, National Hospital, Federal staff hospital Jabi, Nyanya and all other hospitals for giving their best in caring for those injured and those who died during the attack.
On the issues of hospitals being overwhelmed by the number of causalities, the minister said there was need to increase the capacities of hospital to receive such victims especially with the recent trend of events in the country.

Gang-Raped Girl, Gang-Raped Justice: How Nigeria Police Forced Victim To Free ‘Rapists’

Four boys raped her. Yet, there is no justice for her as the police allegedly forced her to free the rapists.
The Agbado-Oja community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State is just a sleepwalking distance away from the ever-bustling Ishaga area of Lagos. Despite its proximity to the “Centre of Excellence”, the community typifies an eloquent statement in rustic retrogression — a place where poverty walks on all fours, clothed in the tattered attire of naked, running children, rundown ancient buildings and filth-filled streets.
But poverty is not the only thing that reigns unfettered here. The diabolic mixture of sexual abuse and ignorance appears to be equally holding sway.
Hawawu (full name withheld), the 16 year-old daughter of a struggling bricklayer and an apprentice tailor, recently became the latest victim of the rape virus currently running wild in the community. But in addition, there was the shocking, seeming police complicity in the brutal crime.
As the story goes, on the evening of March 30, Hawawu received a call from her male friend, Adeleke, for a meeting in his house. The previous day, Adeleke, a young man for whom Hawawu reportedly had a soft spot, had arrived in the tailoring shop opposite her house where she resumed apprenticeship two years ago, and a year after she dropped out of Primary Three at the nearby AC Community Primary School. Adeleke, in the company of two other boys, reportedly invited her to an event holding in his house. After the repeated call on Sunday evening, she left for his house. On getting there, Hawawu was said to be initially reluctant entering. Shortly after, Adeleke and three of his friends dragged her into his room after which four of them allegedly took turns raping her.
Later that night, they were said to have dragged the now half-conscious girl writhing in pains all the way down the staircases in the storey building then dumped her in front of her ramshackle house on 4, Isanmi Street in the Adubo-Agopani area of Agbado-Oja.

Hawawu’s father Yinusa Olarenwaju

Her father, Yinusa Olarenwaju, 43, was alerted by neighbours and he took her into the derelict, one room, face-me-I-face-you apartment, a sort of a boys quarters arrangement left to him by his father. It is this room with the brownish and wrinkled roofs falling off, and where he had shared with the victim and her younger sister, Amina, 13, since their mother, Tawa, left him about a decade ago, that he took his dying daughter into.
It was 11p.m. and, as usual, Mr. Olarenwaju was down and out and with no transport easily in site, he tried ‘managing’ the traumatized girl till the next day.
On Monday morning, a weeping Mr. Olarenwaju headed for the palace of the Baale (local chief), Sunday Oyeogun, to report the matter.
“After Hawawu’s father reported, I immediately summoned the parents of the accused boys,” Mr. Oyeogun told this reporter recently.
But rather than look out for the victim to extend to her the much needed medical care, they allegedly ‘gathered’ N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) and brought to the Baale to ‘kill’ the case. According to him, he refused and directed that the girl be treated as a matter of urgency before any other discussion.
He also, he said, advised the victim’s father to report the case at the Divisional Police Headquarters in the area.
Thereafter, a certain Alaba, a police officer attached to the Juvenile, Women and Children’s Unit, was assigned the case as the Investigating Police Officer (IPO).
That was where the case took a dangerous turn.

Pastor drops dead conducting funeral of herbalist

TRAGEDY HITS OHAFIA BURIAL SERVICE
■ Pastor drops dead conducting funeral of herbalist
The sleepy town of Asaga-Oha­fia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State has been thrown into a deep shock and controversy following the death of a cleric who dropped dead while conduct­ing the burial service of a renowned herbalist.
Saturday Sun gathered that Pa Oji Okoko, who was not only a notable herb­alist but a leader of some powerful cult groups such as Uke Abaa, Akpan and Ekpe, had warned his family before his death that his corpse should not to be taken to any church for funeral. However, his burial few days ago was turned to a show of power in the community torn between two religions: Christianity and idolatry. The same town has produced Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and popular Evangelist, Rev Uma Ukpai who has taken evangelism around the globe.
Findings showed that the man at the cen­tre of the controversy, the late Pa Okoko, a native of Nde Uduma Ukwu compound in Eziukwu village, Asaga, Ohafia in Ohafia local council, was a great hunter, a farmer and native doctor of repute. Being a mem­ber of several traditional and cult groups in his community like Uke Abaa, Akpan and Ekpe, Pa Okoko, before his death at the age of 104 years, was said not to have entered any church in his life time.
A polygamist married to six wives that bore him 26 children, Okoko was said to have called his first son, Kalu Oji Okoko along with others at a point when he knew he was nearing his grave and warned not to deposit his corpse in any mortuary when he dies and never to take him to any church or conduct any Christian funeral for him.
It was learnt that the order was to en­sure that his traditional group members, particularly the Ekpe society, would con­duct his burial ceremonies and rites. Pa Okoko’s children and close relations re­portedly acceded to the latter request but pleaded with him to rescind his decision on the former, in the sense that putting him in the morgue when he breathed his last would afford members of his Ekpe group and others enough time to prepare well for his burial. This he accepted, but taking his body to any church was no-go area.
Saturday Sun gathered that when Pa Okoko eventually died last month, his chil­dren decided to respect his wish by depos­iting his corpse in a morgue in the area but were not interested in organising a church funeral service in his honour. Trouble, however, started when the maternal side of the deceased’s family on whose shoulders Igbo customs place much of the burial re­sponsibility prevailed on the children and close relations of the late centenarian that  church service be conducted for him. In order not to give room for any hiccup dur­ing the burial, as according to custom, the maternal family members could disrupt the ceremonies if their opinion was not factored in, some of the children of the de­ceased acceded to the request.